Lanterns, also called lanterns, lanterns, and now snow globe lantern. It is said to originate from Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month of one year, Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty set up an altar in the imperial palace to offer sacrifices to the god of heaven. As it is held all night long, it must be lit all night long, which later evolved into Lantern Festival lighting. Another theory is that it is related to religion. Since ancient times, there have been Buddhist monks on the fifteenth day of the first month of the practice of viewing Buddha sarira, lighting lanterns to worship Buddha. Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty advocated Buddhism, and ordered that night in the royal palace and temples to light lanterns to worship Buddha, so that the common people are hanging lights. And after the rise of Taoism, Shangyuan Festival worship Tianguan and Buddhist lighting combined with each other, more formed every fifteenth night of the first month, urban and rural lights, nobles and common people, all hanging lights of the unique custom.
Ten miles of lights, flowing brightly
Although lanterns originated in the Han Dynasty, they flourished in the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty was prosperous because of social prosperity and economic prosperity. The history of the Tang Dynasty called the Lantern Festival “the meeting of the Lantern shadow”, since then, the Lantern Festival is also called “Lantern Festival”, “Lantern Festival”. In order to show “sharing joy with the people”, the emperors of the Tang Dynasty were not only the decision-makers and advocates of the Lantern Festival and lantern fair, but also the active participants. Not only their own inconspicuous shopping lights, but also allow the royal family and officials to view the lights. The Lantern Festival and before and after each day, officially become a national statutory holiday, the government offices are to stop working. Moreover, during these three nights, “he rescinded the order of Xu Jinwu to relax and watch the lanterns”.
Even the armed forces, which normally enforce the night ban, can put their swords and guns into storage during these three nights, and let their horses go to the South Mountain to watch the lanterns for fun. Three nights of relaxation, the city’s citizens can enjoy, even close to the palace, the imperial army is not allowed to interfere. Palaces, temples, official mansions, rich houses are set up mountain shed, build color buildings, at the expense of heavy capital, “made lanterns burning lanterns”, to fight for victory, streets and alleys are also hung with lights, it can be said that “bright as day”. Even in the tributes of foreign states, there were rare lanterns, which shows that neighboring countries also knew the hobbies of the Tang emperor and the prosperity of lantern festivals in the Central Plains. In the Song Dynasty, although the state was weak, this cultural activity was promoted and promoted by the royal family, making the Song Dynasty another important historical stage for the development of flower lanterns. The Ming and Qing dynasties have not reduced the boom of lanterns, more light market, selling all kinds of lanterns, a variety of styles, competing for show.
Under the lantern, encounter romance
In ancient times, to see lanterns, or a good opportunity for men and women to meet, tryst. Because the feudal society of women, not allowed to go out free activities, only in the Lantern Festival to come out to play together. So the Lantern Festival to see the lanterns, is the day of tryst. Many literati described the story of the talented and beautiful under the lanterns.
Ouyang Xiu’s “Shengzhazi” : “Last year on the night of Yuan, the flower market lights were as bright as day. The willow tip on the moon, after dusk.” Xin Qiji “Qingyu case” : “the crowd is looking for him, suddenly look back, the man is in the dim lights.” It describes the romantic love of Yuanxiao night. Yuanxiao Lantern, many love legends, so many people say that the Lantern Festival is China’s “Valentine’s Day”. Therefore, the Lantern Festival, although from life, but not so simple lighting, more is a romantic symbol.
The world of lights is full of colors
Chinese lantern is a variety of techniques, a variety of techniques, a variety of decorative skills, a variety of materials made comprehensive art, so there are a variety of lanterns, dragon lantern, palace lantern, gauze lamp, flower basket lamp, dragon and phoenix lamp, corner lamp, tree lamp, fireworks lamp, mushroom lamp, the shape of round, square, cylindrical, polygonal and so on. Because the region is different, and each has its own characteristics.
Beijing Lantern Color
Long history, exquisite production, elegant and clean, calm color, especially the palace lamp is the most famous. Palace lanterns are often made and used by the royal palace and government, hence the name. Beijing palace lamp uses rosewood, red sandalwood, nanmu and other valuable wood as the skeleton, inlaid yarn silk, glass as the lamp picture screen; In addition, it is also useful for bone carving, copper casting, burning blue, carved lacquer, etc., as the column. Decoration is often carved and painted, plus more hexagonal pattern conformation, so it appears more noble temperament, dignified and graceful, there are two kinds of hexagonal palace lamp and lantern. Hexagonal lantern is a traditional hexagonal palace lantern. Gauze lamp can not only light, but also decorate the decorative environment. In the past, bamboo strips that grow for three years were cut into the frame. Then, the white yarn was dyed into various colors such as yellow, blue, pink and green, and the lanterns were made. Then, the patterns of flowers and birds, landscapes, birds, fish and insects were painted using traditional Chinese painting techniques. Because the lamp internal combustion candle wind blowing out, commonly known as “Qi dead wind lamp”. Now, the main varieties of Beijing gauze lamp are red Qing lamp, color gauze lamp, prop lamp, civil lamp, etc., has a kind of rich simple, elegant and elegant beauty, add a happy atmosphere.
Foshan flower lamp
Local commonly known as “Foshan Lantern Color”, since the rise of “Autumn color competition” in the Ming Dynasty, has been a great development. To the Qing Dynasty, a variety of “tie making line” increased, a variety of skills, the popularity of autumn color competitions, lanterns sold abroad. Today, Foshan flower lanterns can still be seen in the Ming Dynasty “paper horse fire dragon” warm style, and in the decoration is more advanced. Foshan flower lanterns are exquisite in shape, diverse in techniques, bright in color, brilliant and rich, with a strong national style and local color. There are dozens of varieties of fish scale lamp, walking horse lamp, head lamp, animal lamp and so on. Lantern decoration with gold paper as the base, generally pasted with Foshan copper lining paper-cut, with silk painting as the screen, painting plum, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum, lotus and so on. And with five rehearsal spike, colorful hydrangea, mirror, gem, etc., to enhance the sense of gold, render a lively and gorgeous atmosphere.
Teochew lanterns
Xing before the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the style of Kit Kat, exquisite craft, with strong local characteristics. In the past, the local folk shrine had the old custom of welcoming the spirit wandering lantern and evaluating the competition lantern during the first month, which made the bench shaped lantern suitable for carrying the lantern to display particularly popular. The lamp products are the pendant lamp and table lamp of the silk paste with Meel. Chandelier with bamboo strips, lead wire, wooden slat skeleton, mounted on paper silk, painted novel stories, flowers and other themes, there are lanterns, fruit lights, walking lanterns and other varieties. Table lamp is installed on the pedestal figure lamp, can be placed and lifted, easy to participate in parades, games. The characters are dressed in satin, silk and silk gowns, embroidered with gold flowers and silver edges. Table lamp figures more than 50 cm high, the head for paper plastic out of the womb, decorated with hair, painted with color, the body with bamboo strips, lead wire tied, put on clothing, abdominal light, called “fire lamp”. Under 50 cm, the head is shaped with clay, the body parts are made of bamboo, wood, paper, grass, and then wear armor, robe belt, called “gauze lamp”.
There is also a kind of lantern called a “living lantern”, which is a kind of moving lantern made up of real people. This kind of temporary “screen lamp” dressed by real people is urgent to deal with, make the lantern activity more lively and warm atmosphere.
Suzhou Lantern Color
It was famous as early as the Song Dynasty. “Tokyo Menghua Record” records: “the light of the product is very much, to Su lamp as the most, the circle of the largest diameter of three or four feet, are made of jade glaze.” Mi Mi’s “Qian Chun years old record” : “Ban the lantern in the Yuan, the Su lamp as the most.” “Stone Lake Yuefu preface” : “Wuzhong style, you Jing Shang Yuan, the previous month has sold lights, called the light market.” Ming and Qing period, every year at the end of the year, Suzhou Chang Men inside Wu Zhifang, Gao Bridge area, light color everywhere, do not see the sun, lamp shop as many as one hundred, fine exotic varieties. Suzhou flower lanterns are known for their diverse colors, exquisite workmanship, simplicity and elegance, as well as their elegance and elegance. The boneless grass carp lamp, grass carp lamp, bead lamp and lop silk lamp in the Song Dynasty, the lotus lamp, gardenia lamp, walking horse lamp, gauze lamp and the large dragon boat lamp in the Ming and Qing dynasties are all famous Suzhou products with exquisite art and outstanding character.
Suzhou lantern color skillfully combined with paper-cutting, painting, binding, paste mounting and other technologies, with beautiful shape, exquisite structure, bright colors, gorgeous decoration, strange artistic characteristics. Among them, Zouma lantern is the most able to show the characteristics of Su lamp, lighting time bright, only in Bitile eaves pavilion, the character story cycle, fascinating.
Nanjing Confucius Temple Lantern Festival
Since the Ming Dynasty along the present day. During the reign of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered lanterns to celebrate with the people. For hundreds of years, lanterns were made along the Qinhuai River. “Jinling age record” records: “custom to the eighth day of the first month, thirteen, fifteen for the Lantern Festival, all the temple lights.” Nanjing Lantern color, also known as “Qinhuai lantern color”, has a wide range of names, mainly palace lamp, hanging lamp, wall lamp, ball lamp, flower lamp, all kinds of animal lamp, turning lamp and other varieties, exaggerated shape, concise structure, generous decoration, bright color. Modern Nanjing lantern color is innovated and developed on the basis of tradition. It uses various kinds of silk silk, nylon and film as materials and draws nourishment from the shapes and patterns of the famous Nanjing brocade, paper-cut, ivory carving and velvet silk flower. As well as the traditional technology and modern electronics, voice control, light technology as a whole, so that it has a better artistic effect. Every year in the Lantern Festival, the Confucius Temple on the Qinhuai River, people watching lanterns, buying lanterns, products in short supply.
These are just a few well-known professional lantern production areas, as for those suitable for the season, homemade lanterns, like thousands of stars scattered across China.
Besides, ice lanterns are also worth seeing. Ice lanterns are unique folk lanterns in northern China, which originated in the Ming Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, ice lanterns were very popular. “Outside Heilongjiang” cloud: “In the upper Yuan, the city lights for five nights, the sound of cars all night long. There are five or six feet of ice for the birthday lamp. With two torches burning in the middle, it looks like crystal.” Ice lanterns have figures, animals, flowers, buildings and so on. In modern times, around the Lantern Festival, ice lantern festivals are often held in North China to hold various garden activities with ice lanterns. The production of ice lanterns can be divided into two kinds: freezing and ice carving. Small ice lamp, first do the mold, and then to the mold water, sent to the outdoor freezing molding. To make large ice lanterns such as ice peaks, giant beasts and towers, different ice piles should be built with natural ice cubes according to the design requirements, and then carved with tools such as axe, saw and shovel.
In a word, the lanterns cater to the people praying for good luck, happy and happy psychology, so as to complement the strong atmosphere of the festival. Nowadays, lantern color is more emphasis or exaggeration, the decorative, pattern, fun, secular integration, the pursuit of dazzling, elegant and popular artistic effect. This colorful light fully embodies the ideal of Chinese people’s life, but also shows the romantic feelings and infinite vitality of rural China.